2006年VOA标准英语-Singapore Ruling Party Wins Elections by a

By Nancy-Amelia Collins
Singapore
06 May 2006
 
Singapore's ruling People's Action Party won Saturday's general election with a landslide¹ victory, securing a strong mandate² for the two year old leadership of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong.

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Singapore's Prime Minister and head of the ruling People's Action Party (PAP), Lee Hsien Loong, center, waves to supporters at a stadium where they gathered for the announcement for election results 
  

Singapore's ruling People's Action Party (PAP) won 82 out of 84 seats in Saturday's general election retaining the status quo.

The opposition³ - despite having fielded 47 candidates that denied PAP a walk over victory for the first time in nearly two decades before the polls even started - managed simply to retain its two parliament seats.

The elections were seen as a test of popularity for the two-year-old leadership of Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, eldest⁴ son of Singapore's founding father Lee Kwan Yew⁵.

A jubilant Mr. Lee thanked his fellow Singaporeans for the vote of confidence shortly after the election results were announced. "I'd like to thank all Singaporeans for giving my team and me this very strong mandate. The support has come from all communities, across all races. And we will do our best to serve you, work with you, so that we can achieve our vision for Singapore," he said.

While opposition rallies drew thousands of people during the nine day election campaign period, that attendance did not translate into votes.

Mr. Lee urged Singaporeans to put aside their differences now that the elections are over and work together for the good of the country's future. "During these nine days of campaigning, many issues have been raised, many proposals hotly argued, many passions aroused. Now that elections are over, we should come together again as one people," he said.

Analysts⁶ say the majority of Singaporeans, who enjoy a high standard of living, are satisfied with the way PAP is running the country, and depend on the government to cater⁷ to their basic needs.

While the government delivers a strong economy, housing, health care, and education, it also strictly⁸ controls the media, the Internet, and restricts freedom of expression and freedom of assembly.

PAP has dominated Singapore politics since independence in 1965.

Voting is compulsory⁹ in this wealthy city-state where more than 500 Singaporeans living abroad took part in the country's first overseas vote.

The PAP won with a resounding¹⁰ 66 percent of the vote. Sinking below 61 percent - PAP's worst showing in 1991 where the opposition won four seats - would have been an embarrassment¹¹ for Mr. Lee.

1 landslide   

n.(竞选中)压倒多数的选票；一面倒的胜利

参考例句：

• Our candidate is predicated to win by a landslide.我们的候选人被预言将以绝对优势取胜。
• An electoral landslide put the Labour Party into power in 1945.1945年工党以压倒多数的胜利当选执政。

2 mandate   

n.托管地；命令，指示

参考例句：

• The President had a clear mandate to end the war.总统得到明确的授权结束那场战争。
• The General Election gave him no such mandate.大选并未授予他这种权力。

3 opposition   

n.反对，敌对

参考例句：

• The party leader is facing opposition in his own backyard.该党领袖在自己的党內遇到了反对。
• The police tried to break down the prisoner's opposition.警察设法制住了那个囚犯的反抗。

4 eldest   

adj.最年长的，最年老的

参考例句：

• The King's eldest son is the heir to the throne.国王的长子是王位的继承人。
• The castle and the land are entailed on the eldest son.城堡和土地限定由长子继承。

5 yew   

n.紫杉属树木

参考例句：

• The leaves of yew trees are poisonous to cattle.紫杉树叶会令牛中毒。
• All parts of the yew tree are poisonous,including the berries.紫杉的各个部分都有毒，包括浆果。

6 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

7 cater   

vi.(for/to)满足，迎合；(for)提供饮食及服务

参考例句：

• I expect he will be able to cater for your particular needs.我预计他能满足你的特殊需要。
• Most schools cater for children of different abilities.大多数学校能够满足具有不同天资的儿童的需要。

8 strictly   

adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地

参考例句：

• His doctor is dieting him strictly.他的医生严格规定他的饮食。
• The guests were seated strictly in order of precedence.客人严格按照地位高低就座。

9 compulsory   

n.强制的，必修的；规定的，义务的

参考例句：

• Is English a compulsory subject?英语是必修课吗？
• Compulsory schooling ends at sixteen.义务教育至16岁为止。

10 resounding   

adj. 响亮的

参考例句：

• The astronaut was welcomed with joyous,resounding acclaim. 人们欢声雷动地迎接那位宇航员。
• He hit the water with a resounding slap. 他啪的一声拍了一下水。

11 embarrassment   

n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫

参考例句：

• She could have died away with embarrassment.她窘迫得要死。
• Coughing at a concert can be a real embarrassment.在音乐会上咳嗽真会使人难堪。